Income Taxes - Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Taxable Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
GAAP net income (loss) attributable to DDR	$ 33,741	$ (60,360)	$ 41,058	$ 45,573	$ 93,466	$ 59,555	$ 18,598	$ (243,787)	$ 60,012	$ (72,168)	$ 117,282
Plus: Book depreciation and amortization									376,493	385,696	341,391
Less: Tax depreciation and amortization									(224,766)	(228,882)	(210,850)
Book/tax differences on losses from capital transactions									(155,170)	(149,507)	(313,855)
Joint venture equity in earnings, net									(3,802)	8,491	97,323
Deferred income									(8,352)	(4,293)	(12,545)
Compensation expense									(5,237)	(18,879)	(6,103)
Impairment charges									110,906	280,930	68,703
Senior convertible notes – accretion adjustment									0	9,954	11,377
Senior convertible notes – repurchase premium									0	(52,390)	0
Puerto Rico tax prepayment									0	(16,812)	0
Miscellaneous book/tax differences, net									(2,625)	(10,204)	(14,745)
Taxable income before adjustments									147,459	131,936	77,978
Less: Capital gains									0	0	(48,015)
Taxable income subject to the 90% dividend requirement									$ 147,459	$ 131,936	$ 29,963